Blood types predict whether a serious reaction will occur in a blood transfusion. This reaction is called a "haemolytic reaction". It may destroy red blood cells, and cause renal failure. Shock is likely to occur, and death is a possibility.

When a blood transfusion or an organtransplant takes place, it is vital to know the blood types of the donor (who gives blood) and the receiver (who needs blood).

There are a number of human blood group systems. Of these systems, the ABO blood group system and the Rhesus blood group system are the most important. In this system the presence or absence of the A-antigen, the B-antigen and the RhD-antigen are determined.

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In a laboratory, blood is tested for antigens. When a certain antigen is found, there are also always antibodies found. Antibodies attack (attach to) antigens they do not recognise.

Group A (with the A-antigen) has anti-B antibodies

Group B (with the B-antigen) has anti-A antibodies

Group AB (with both A and B-antigens) has no antibodies

Group O (with no antigens) has anti-A and anti-B antibodies

The blood is thus tagged as being A positive, O negative for instance, where the letter refers to the ABO blood group and "positive" or "negative" refers to whether or not the RhD-antigen of the Rhesus blood group system was found. It can also be written A+ and O-, respectively.

Group O have no antigens, but have anti-A and anti-B. This means that they can only receive blood from other people in group O, but they can give to any ABO group.

Group A have anti-B antibodies, so they can only receive blood from people within group A or O. These two groups do not have the B-antigen. They can donate blood to people from group A or AB.

Group B have anti-A antibodies, so they can only receive blood from people within group B or O. They can donate to groups B or AB.

Blood group AB have no antibodies, so they can receive blood from any blood group. However, they can only donate blood to other people with blood group AB.

People with type O negative blood are often called universal donors because they can give blood to any other blood group. People with type AB positive blood are called universal recipients because they can receive blood from any other blood group.

The Rh factor (Rh meaning Rhesus) is a feature of the second most common blood-group system in human-blood transfusion. it is named the Rhesus monkey where they were first discovered.[1] Rh is an inherited trait,[2] which refers to a protein on the surface of an individual's red blood cells.

The Rh factor is separate from, and in addition to, ABO groups. The Rh factor is either present on individual's red blood cells or it is not.[1] Rh positive means the factor is present. Rh negative means it is not present. In blood transfusions it is important that the blood donor and recipient have the same Rh factor and same blood group.[3]

Before a transfusion takes place blood is thoroughly tested for anything that might cause problems for the receiver.